• Finding ways to keep a room cool doesn't require buying an air conditioner or hiring a remodeler to put a vent in. You can do many simple things to cool a room right away. Some ideas require you to purchase a few things, and other ideas don't cost a cent.
  
  

Evaporative Cooling

• A swamp cooler is a good alternative to an air conditioner and works well for single rooms. The caveat with an evaporative cooling device such as this is that it works best in dry climates because it adds moisture to the air, so in humid climates it will make the room too humid. The device needs only electrical power and water for the pump reservoir to create a cool room, and it's much more economical than a window air conditioner.
  
  

Window Coverings

• Solar screens or window covers are important to keeping a room cool. These keep the sun's rays from heating the room through the glass in the windows. Heavy curtains on the inside of the room will help also as long as they are light in color. If they're dark colored, they will actually work to heat the room because dark colors absorb heat.
  
  

Cool Colors

• Using cool paint colors on the outside and inside of the house will reduce the amount of heat absorbed into the interior of the home. Painting the walls of the room you want to keep cool a light color will help keep it cool.
  
  

Trees and Shrubs

• Planting fast-growing trees and shrubs on the south and west sides of the house will help keep the interior cool. This works because not only do plants, trees and shrubs provide shade, but they also absorb heat.
  
  

Whole-house Fan or Heat Pump

• Turning on your home's whole-house fan will keep the air moving and make the home more comfortable. If your home is a equipped with a heat pump, turning on the whole-house fan will make use of the heat pump to expel warm air from the home. Even if your room doesn't have an air vent, keeping the surrounding living spaces cool will in turn keep the room cool.